One of the early questions after the quake was where the billions of dollars raised would go, and would the money spent be spent in the right way.  Discussions on rescue vs. relief were taking place, and no matter what the discussion focus was, it was clear that a long term approach was going to be needed.

Chinese gov’t to offer subsidies to students from quake zone highlights of the most recent initiatives to support families who were affected, and relieve some of the short term burdens that are surely on the mind of many in the area.

A joint circular approved by the State Council on Friday said the aid was targeted at poor students from high schools (including secondary vocational schools and ordinary high schools) and universities (including general universities and higher vocational colleges) in the May 12 quake zone covering Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces and 51 counties, cities and districts in Chongqing Municipality.

Where I particularly like this program, as it is being reported, is simply that many families were already struggling with these fees and were having to make tough decisions to ensure their children were able to get a proper education.

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Huawei Technologies in India has decided to financially aid Deepalaya, a non-government development organization working on issues affecting the urban and rural poor, with a special focus on children. The aid program will last for three years, with a first year contribution of INR1 million offering education and skills training to 50 children. The program aims [...]

The Dalian government agreed to pay wastewater treatment fees to the Dongtai Xia Jiahe Water treatment plant, with a recognized commencement backdated to June 21, 2008. The first stage of construction of the plant has been completed and is operating consistent with design parameters, discharging Class A water and a capacity of approximately 30,000 tons per [...]

Setting aside the hygiene issues that a smoking ambulance driver represents, I am amazed that the driver of this ambulance is happy to smoke around open oxygen tanks and patients (this ambulance did have people in the back).

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Sterlite to expand capacity of copper smelter in Tuticorin Hindu, India - 17 hours ago The company believes the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are one of the opportunities to contribute to the society. ...

Shanghai Xinmin Taiyo Kikai Co.Ltd. has decided to set up a scholarship in the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication to reward students with excellent academic performance. The company is reported to offer CNY10,000 to each of ten students annually. And some of the students will get the opportunity of half-year paid training in the company after [...]

China Petrochemical Corporation released its 2007 corporate social responsibility report in Beijing at the end of August 2008. The report elaborates the efforts and achievements Sinopec has made in CSR, including "supply responsibility", "security and environmental responsibility", "staff development responsibility" and "social responsibility". Sinopec is the China's largest crude oil processing and refined oil sales enterprise, [...]

For Each of the 51 Olympic gold medals won by Chinese athletes, Haier will build a primary school in China. 15 schools are to be built in Beichuan, the Sichuan county that was devastated by the May 12, 2008 earthquake. Haier announced its "One Gold Medal, One Olympic Hope School" program in 2007. For each Chinese [...]

Jamaican Olympic legend Usain Bolt at the Westin Beijing Financial Street. In a ceremony in the Plush lounge of the hotel the fastest man in the world personally donated USD50,000 to the Red Cross to help children affected by the Sichuan earthquake.